Electric switch



1=b.5,1929.4` I 1 l 1,701,352

A. E. BAILEY?, JR

I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 1Q.- 1926 1 IIEJI "i mdillu lllll I1 @IIE y 1li i 'IVM i11-2 1 Inventor-. Mllehfla leyfdfr.

I ALLEN EJBAL-ILEY, JR.; F SHENECTADYVNELW YRX, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELEC- l i' Patented Feb. k5, 1929.

I ico/1,52

PAreNror-"Fcs,

'ERIC-COMPANY, A CORPORATION-0F NEW YORK.

niinornrc swircn. i

. Application tiled December --1G, i926. I Serial No. 153,974.

eral application in the control of electrical 'apparatus and has particular application to electric signaling systems, for example, inthe operation of motion transmission systems 1n which. it may be desired to connect any one of a pluralityo? motion receiving devicesy with a single motiontransniitting device.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a plurality of stationary contact members and a rotor kprovided with contact members arranged-to cooperate with the stationary contact members inA such manner that a predetermined stationary contact member can be connected to .any one .of the remaining stationary contact members as desired.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. i is a side elevation view of an electric switch embody ing my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. l looking linl the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional view along thcline 3-3 oat Fig. Blocking in .the direction of the arrows; Figs.' 4 and 5 are enlarged views showing details'of construction, Fig. the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic viewsshowing the electrical connections for various positions of the switch while Fig. 14 is a front elevation view showing the knob and dial of the switch; Fig. 15 isa diagrammatic view of the connections in a modified forni of my invention.

Referring tothe drawing, I have shown my selector switch whereby a plurality of incoming or outgoing lines mayibe separately connected as desired with the conductors of any lines. 'vided with eight individual switching eleshaft 5 being a sectional view along u one of several sets of outgoing or incoming As shown in Fig. l, the switch is proments 10-17 inclusive, these elements being' identical in construction and each element performing the switching functions whereb f some one line wire may be connected wit i any one of a plurality of lines. With the -v arrangement shown, in which eight switching elements are provided as many as eight line wires can'be taken care of, although obviy. ously thecapacity of the switch may be increased by increasing the number of switching elements.

As shown in Fig. 2 each switching element comprises a plurality of stationary contact members which, in the form shown, are se-' cured in equally spaced positions on a supporting ring 18 made of suitable insulating material, such as libre or a bakelite coInpound. As shown, nine of these contact members, numbered 2028 inclusive areprovided,r although obviously' any suitable number may be used depending upon the number of circuits to be controlled. 4Cooperating with. the stationary contacts are a plurality of movable contacts 29 'secured to a rotor member comprising a disk 30 made of a suitable electrically insulating material which is. secured on a rotorshaft 31. The rotor dislis 30 are secured against rotation by means of rods 31 and 3l on opposite sides of the 3l and secured.' in parallel 'relation' therewith by means vof cross members 3lc and .31d (Fig. l) secured to the sliaft'l. The rods 3l and 31" and the shaft 31 pass through apertures in the rot-or disks, which are se- Iinvention', stationary e included by lines corresponds to the spacingof the contacts, i. e., the ang joining two adjacent contacts 29 with the center of the shaft 31 is equal to the angle andethereby engage the turned by I. means of the shaft! 3l. The' spacing of the l contacts 29, in this form of my -inventionin one form inconnection with a" 90 cured 'against displacement longitudinally includedv by similar lines passing through two adjacent stationary lcontacts. Since there is one less rotor contact, however, the

kspace between one pair of rotor contacts is of bridging conductors 33, 34 and 35, oppo sitely disposed contacts lying in planes parallel to the plane of the first pair of contactsbeing connected together as shown in the drawing.

In order to improve the electrical connections between the stationary y and rotating contacts a contact shoe or member 36 is pivoted on the inner end of each stationary contact member. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the inner ends of the stationary contact members are forked, the shoe 36 being mounted between the two projections thus formed on a pivot pin 37. One end of the Contact shoe which is provided with a contact surface is biased inward toward the rotor by means cfa helical spring 38 which encircles the pivot p in 37. The opposite end of the shoe engages the body of the stationary contact member at point 39 so as to limit the inward movement of the contact shoe. 4.The contact shoes are so situated with respect to the rotor contacts 29 that each 'shoe will be moved outward slightly' about its pivot as a rotor contact passes beneath it n whereby a good electrical contact is assured.

In the operation of the switch the stationary contact members will be electrically connected to the lines to be controlled. As shown these stationary contact members are pro.- vided with screws 40 whereb these electrical connections can be made. gome one of the 'stationary contacts will b'e connected' to the line wire which it is desired toconnect'with a plurality of wires. In the arrangement shown, it has been assumed that the contact member 20 will be connected to this line. The remaining contact members 21-28 inclusive willbe connected respectively to the line wires with which connection is to bc made. l/Vith the switch connected in this manner; the rotor is in' off position when turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, since in this position the stationary Contact member 20 lies in the gap between the double spaced rotor contacts and is not connected with any one ofthe other stationary contacts. In order to facilitate rthe operation of the switch, the rotor 31, which may be turned by means of a'knob 41, is provided with a pointer 42 cooperating with a scale plate 43 on which are indicated the off positions and eight operating positions, numered 1-8 inclusive, as shown in Fig. 14. The electrical connections for the various positions of the rotor are indicated in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive which correspond with positions 1 8` inclusive respectively. It .will be noted that when the rotor is turned 1n a clockwiseA direction as observed in Fig. 14, i. e. counterclockwise as observed in Figs. 2 6 to 13' inclusive, connections are successively established between the contact member 20 and the `vremaining contacts in positions l'to 8 incluvbe turned in either direction to the proper position. For f example, the rotor may be turned in acountcrclockwise'direction from 80 position 1 as indicated in. Fig. 6 to posi'- tion 8 as indicated in F ig.- 13 or. the rotor may be turned to od -position in either direction.

In the arrangement lshown in Fig. 1 the 1nsulating supporting rings 18. of the various switching elements are .mounted on parallel rods 44 in spaced relation to each other and the disks 30 of the rotor members are secured to the shaft 31 in correspondingly spaced p'ou sitions. Brackets 45 and 46 are provided at. 90 the ends of the rodsf44 in which the rotor shaft 31 is rotatably mounted. As shown the switch is mounted on a-suitable'panel board 47 the bracket 45 being secured to the panel, board by means of screws l48 and 49. The 95 shaft 3l extends through the ,panel andthe knob and pointer are'on the opposite side VJfrom the switching elements.A

Obviously as previously indicated anysuitable number of Aswitching elements may be .190 operated from asingle -rotor shaft to accommodate the number of circuits to be e'on-. trolled.' Furthermore, the number of cire cuits controlled by each switching element canbe varied as desired by varying the num'- ylos ber of stationary and rotating contacts.- It is preferable, however, to provide an odd number of stationary contacts and an ev'erA number of rotating contacts.

In the modified vform of shown diagrammatically. in Fig. 15, the stationary contacts are vspaced uncqually around the rotor. vAs shown, there are five station-, ary contacts 50 to 54 inclusive, whereby only two short circuiting conductors or members `f 55 and 56vare provided on the rotor 57. The contact 50 is the line' contact Whichis tobe connected to any one of the contacts 51- to 54 inclusive. Although various ,arrangements of the contacts may be used, in the particular arrangement shown the contacts 51 to 54 in` elusive are equally spaced about the rotor, the contact 50 being located midway between" the contacts 51 and ber 55 is of such length that itwill connect 12.5 the contact 50 with the contact 52 in one posil tion of the rotor, andwill connect the contact 50 with the contact 53 in another position of the rotor, as will be understood from the previous di 'cription in connection with 130 my invention, Il@

54. The bridging mem."

the form shown in Figs. 1.-'14 inclusive. ,The

bridginfr member 56, which is'paiallel with p the meiiizber 55, is much shorten'however, and

is'of such length that it will connect thev contact 5() with either the contact 54 or the contact 5l :when the rotor-'is turned to the required positions to establish these connecf tions.

The particular form of.` my invention shown in Fig. has the advantage that vwhen -the rotor:is in the oi position, as

shown in Fig. 15, the bridging contact members do not engage the 4stationary contacts, as is the case with the' form of my invention shown in Figs. 1-14 inclusive. `This avoids the possibility. of anyv undesirable circuitsl Y being established when the rotor is in oil? position. Furthermore when-the rotor is turnedto any operating position to connect'the lcontact with any one of the contacts 51 toi-54 inclusive, the particular connection desired I- is the only one established. For example, when the rotor is turned sothat the bridging .member connects the contact 5() with the -contact 52 the bridging member 56 does not at the same time rest on certain' other contact-s and electrically connect them together, as occurs in the form shown in Figsflfli inclusive.4 Obviously, with this form of my` invention an suitable number of. stationary contacts can used, a corresponding number of bridging members being at the same time.

provided. l U

While I have describedA niy inventioiras embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specificy mannerin accordance 'with the 4,0, Y -art without departing from the spirit of my i What I claim as new and desire to secure lby Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

` 1. A switch comprising a plurality of oon- Vtacts, a plurality ofbridging members of different lengtlis, Aand means for'moving said members successively into yengagement with one of said contacts so as to connect said contact selectively to each ofthe remaining conltioiiary contacts,

' 2. A switch comprising a plurality of staf-vp a rotor member,i and a plii' tionary contacts, i rality of bridging conductors';moiinted on said rotor arranged to electricallyconnect a predetermined stationary contact with any one of the remainingstationary contacts w'lien g l connect said Contact selectively to each of the the rotor is turned. y v g l 3. .Aswitch comprising a plurality of staa rotor member, and means carried by said rotor member'or selectively fconnecting one ofl g leach of" the remaining stationary contacts-as said stationary contacts to itlirotor is turned.

4. A selector switch comprising a plurality A ol stationary contacts spaced in a circle, a rotor, a plurality ot' bridging conductors on tlic rotor arranged to cooperate successively with. a predetermined stationary contact as -thc' rotor is turned and electrically connect said stationary Contact to each one of the remaining station ary contacts. A

5. A selector switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, 'a rotormember and a plurality of bridging members on said rotor cooperating with one of said stationary contacts successively as the rotor is turned to connectv said stationary contact to the remainin stationary contacts inalternate order, sai stationary contact being connected to' each o f the other contacts once each revolution of said 'twice each rcvolutionof said rotor.

6. Aselector switch comprising a plural-` efpally s aced in to'be moved successively into engagement rotor and said bridging members being used of bridging members on said rotor arranged with one of said stationanycontacts as the rotor is turned to connect said stationary contact to. each of the remaining 4contacts in alternate order each revolution of said roter. 8. A selector switch comprising an od dico number of stationary contacts, a rotor, aneven number of contacts on said rotor spaced to correspond with the spacing of said stationary contacts, and electrical connections between oppositely disposed contacts on said rotor whereby a predetermined stationary contact is connected to'each'of the remaining stationary contacts as the rotor is turned. 1 l

9. A selector switch comprising anA odd number of *stationary contacta, a rotor,l an s even number of contacts on said rotor paced to engage a corresponding number of said stationary contacts simultaneously, one 4pair of said rotor contacts having a double spacing, a conductor connecting said pair. of contacts, and'conductors connecting theremaining rc1 tor contacts together in pairs,

for moving said members successively into enagement with vone of'said contacts so as to remaining contacts. 1

' '.ll. A selector switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts unequally spaced oppositely .ds Y osed rotor contacts being connected together.

in a circle, a rotor, and a plurality of bridging members on said rotor of varyinglength arvranged to connect oneof said stationary conta'cts as said rotor is turned.

4. y f y 1,701,352

tats'foeach of the remaining stationary coniength as to connect any predetermined oneof said stationary contacte to one or the other l2. A selector switch comprising an odd of two of the remainingstationary ontacts ln number of stationary contacts equally spaced as to the rotor is turned. 5 in n circle, a rotor, ai plurality of bridging In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my memberspf graduated lengths on said rotor, hand this 7th day of December i926. 'f

each of said" bridging members being of such ALLEN E. BAILEY, JR.

i CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,701,352. Granted February 5, 1929, to

ALLEN E. BAILEY, JR.

It is hereby certified that error appears inthe printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, Iine ll, clnim 12, strike out the word "to"; and that'the said Letters Patent shouid be read with this correetion -therein that the same may conform to the record of the .case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of March, A. D. i929.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORREGTIGN.

Patent No. 1,701,352. Granted February 5, 1929,v te

ALLEN E. BAILEY, JR.

It is hereby oertified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 1i, claim 12, strike out the word "to"; ami that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of Mariah. A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

